NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CONTENTS

3 Welcome

4 Candidate Forums

5 Virtual Endorsement Interviews

6 Forum Series on Implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

8 By the Numbers

10 NYC Clean School Bus Coalition

12 A Greener City Hall?

13 Clean Fuels NY

14 Thank You to Our Board

15 Board Members & Staff

16 Emerging Leaders

17 Corporate Partners

18 Donors

2 2020 ANNUAL REPORT hen 2020 began, no one imagined we would all be thrust into the middle of a global pandemic after only a couple of months. But the public health crisis only strengthened our resolve that combating Wthe climate crisis is necessary to improving public health and the economy.

Climate action is at the crux of everything we fight for, whether it’s renewable energy, clean transportation, environmental justice, building efficiency, or green jobs with family-sustaining wages. It’s also the top issue that we demand candidates for office prioritize if they want our support and the top issue we ask our members to consider when making decisions at the ballot box. And climate change is the reason we make clean water, open space, and reducing waste our top priorities year after year.

That’s why we are excited to publish our inaugural Annual Report so that we can provide a progress report on these issues to the very supporters who help us accomplish our advocacy, programmatic, and development goals.

Even while adhering to strict social distancing guidelines, we were able to accomplish quite a lot in 2020. We pivoted to a virtual format for our forums and our candidate endorsement interviews, which helped us reach a much wider audience than usual. A virtual format has helped our key development programs, including Corporate Partners, thrive. NYLCV also took on leadership roles in several coalitions that are working to achieve our advocacy priorities including clean transportation and investing in our parks.

We describe all this progress and more inside our report. We could not have achieved any of this without your continued support. Thank you for generously standing with us and the conservation voter movement.

Julie Tighe President, NYLCV/EF

NYLCV/EF 3 CANDIDATE FORUMS

Senate District 55 Congressional District 15 Assembly District 125

NYLCVEF recruits local journalists to serve Our non-partisan as the moderators ensuring that the discussion is substantive and relevant to the community. candidate forums help Audience participation is encouraged as voters learn about where attendees are invited to submit questions. the candidates stand on In 2020, we held an in-person candidate forum for Borough President and virtual key environmental issues. candidate forums for Congressional District 15 in the Bronx, Congressional District 17 in Westchester and Rockland counties, State Senate District 1 on Long Island, State Senate District 55 in Western New York, and Assembly District

Candidate forums for Congressional Districts 1 and 2 125 encompassing Ithaca and Cortland, as well as interviews with candidates for Congressional Districts 1 and 2 on Long Island.

4 2020 ANNUAL REPORT VIRTUAL ENDORSEMENT INTERVIEWS

Congressional District 17

Hot topics this year included siting and During most years, we hold our candidate investments in renewable energy, how the endorsement interviews in-person. Due to the recovery from COVID can include more pandemic in 2020, in-person meetings were not sustainable policies, protecting clean water, possible. But that didn’t stop us from conducting the preservation of public lands, addressing a record number of interviews virtually. air quality disparities in environmental justice neighborhoods, creating green Moving these meetings to an online-only format jobs, and controlling the spread of meant that we could expand our outreach invasive species. to more regions and screen more candidates than ever before. It’s a new skill that will Thousands of voters from all around the come in handy in the future as interest in our state who could not make the live event endorsement grows. have been able to view these forums live via Facebook (facebook.com/nylcv) and on our The interviews were just as productive as every YouTube channel (youtube.com/nylcv). election year. Ninety percent of the candidates that we endorsed won their race, which means that our relationships within the State Legislature continue to grow.

NYLCV/EF 5 FORUM SERIES ON IMPLEMENTING THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT

Building on a policy forum that we held in public awareness, educate New Yorkers on 2019 to introduce New Yorkers to the landmark climate policy, and develop recommendations Climate Leadership and Community Protection for how to meet those objectives. Act (CLCPA), in 2020 we kicked off a series of virtual forums that focused on each sector of We held forums focusing on offshore wind our economy. transmission, buildings and efficiency, and transportation. and will continue holding more The CLCPA mandates economy-wide carbon- in 2021. The forums featured panelists from our neutrality by 2050 and each sector has its own non-profit partners, government, and industry unique challenges and opportunities. Through representatives. We discussed opportunities this series, our goal is to dive deeper into how including new technologies and strong public we are going to achieve he CLCPA’s ambitious policies, as well as challenges like our current climate goals in a way that is effective, efficient, fiscal crisis. If you’d like to learn more, visit and equitable. The series also aims to build nylcvef.org/CLCPAforumseries.

6 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Our forum on offshore wind transmission

Through this series, our goal is to dive deeper into how we are going to achieve the CLCPA’s ambitious climate goals in a way that is effective, efficient, and equitable.

NYLCV/EF 7 2020: BY THE NUMBERS Our political influence is steadily increasing as more candidates are participating in our endorsement process and more of our endorsed candidates are winning their races. Our fundraising is growing, which supports our work to achieve advocacy and programmatic accomplishments throughout the year.

Endorsement interest increases Questionnaires received 2020 214

2016 183

2012 162

Endorsement activity increases Races we endorsed in 2020 127

2016 117

2012 82

Our relationships increase Number of winning candidates 2020 114

2016 108

2012 72

Percent of endorsed candidates who won

8 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Bills we advocated Candidate forums Eco-Breakfasts for that passed 8 13 23

Policy forums Donors Corporate partners 5 682 33

People who took action New donors Grants received 6,006 299 18

Funding we helped get Funds raised Funds raised included in the State Budget at Gala through grants $3.8 BILLION $900,000 $400,000

NYLCV/EF 9 NYC The coalition is fighting for better air quality and less pollution from school buses, CLEAN and will work to transition New York City away from diesel and towards electric SCHOOL school buses. BUS COALITION

10 2020 ANNUAL REPORT NYLCV Education Fund continues to work During a school year full of changes, diesel with local groups and coalitions across the state pollution remains constant. The coalition is to build support for electric school buses as part fighting for better air quality and less pollution of our Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign. from school buses. COVID-19 underscores We launched the NYC Clean School Bus the importance of improving air quality Coalition which includes organizations working in environmental justice communities. on labor, environment, social justice, public The coalition will work to transition health and more to help bring electric school New York City away from diesel and buses to environmental justice communities. towards electric school buses. The coalition is advocating for local legislation that would phase out diesel school buses in NYC by 2040.

NYLCV/EF 11 Borough President Eric Adams

A GREENER CITY HALL? The events give our board The next mayor of New York City will have the monumental task of furthering the City’s work members, corporate partners, on climate action. That includes enacting bold policies as well as ensuring we have plans to major donors, and non-profit follow through with them. partners a special opportunity to To help keep the environment top of mind for have intimate conversations with the mayoral candidates, we started an event series - “A Greener City Hall?” The events the mayoral candidates. give our board members, corporate partners, major donors, and non-profit partners a special opportunity to have intimate conversations with the candidates.

We ask about their plans for reducing waste and promoting recycling, expanding greenspace, keeping the city’s world-class drinking water system clean, greening our transportation sector, and making our infrastructure more resilient.

12 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Assemblymember joined our forum on the benefits of a Clean Fuels Standard

CLEAN FUELS NY The Clean Fuels NY coalition Transportation is the leading contributor to climate pollution in the state and nationwide. is led by the New York League That’s why reducing emissions from the transportation sector is one of our priorities of Conservation Voters and was and we are leading a coalition that’s advocating formed to demonstrate the broad for a policy that will help do just that. and diverse support for New York Clean Fuels NY is focused on passing a clean fuel standard to slash emissions by holding State to create a clean fuel standard polluters accountable and spurring widespread deployment of low and zero-emission vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and innovation in alternative fuel industries. from the transportation sector.

NYLCV/EF 13 THANK YOU TO

Ann Davlin OUR BOARD

Our board members are vital to our work. They provide support, leadership, guidance, and direction for our advocacy and programs. We appreciate their dedication to our

Richard L. Farren environment and combating climate change.

A number of board members stepped down in 2020, some after many years of dedicated service. We thank them all for serving the environmental community with distinction.

Barbara Fife

ANN DAVLIN

Kevin Knobloch RICHARD L. FARREN

BARBARA FIFE

KEVIN KNOBLOCH

Sophia Mendelsohn SOPHIA MENDELSOHN

ROSALIND WALRATH

Rosalind Walrath

14 2020 ANNUAL REPORT BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF

NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS NEW YORK LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS EDUCATION FUND

BOARD OFFICERS BOARD OFFICERS Steven C. Russo, Chair Thomas E. L. Dewey, Chair Jon Robert Del Giorno, Vice Chair David J. Freeman, Co-Vice Chair Lisa Linden, Vice Chair Paul Roux, Co-Vice Chair Gail S. Port, Vice Chair Valerie Smith, Co-Vice Chair Jonathan Drescher, Treasurer Patrick Murphy, Treasurer Evan Mason, MA, Secretary Peggy Shepard, Secretary

BOARD MEMBERS BOARD MEMBERS Michael Bogin Gary Albertson Nanette H. Bourne Adrienne T. Atwell Anthony Constantinople, III Edward F. Cox Michael Elmendorf Andrew H. Darrell Richard L. Farren Ann Davlin Barbara J. Fife John Dionisio David J. Freeman Janice Fuller John P. Gallagher Laura Gillen John L. Greenthal Eric Gribetz Marjorie L. Hart James Hagedorn Robin Hubbard Katherine Kennedy Rhea Jezer Lisa Linden Philip E. Karmel Rebecca Marino Suri Kasirer Vatche Minassian Richard Kassel Gail S. Port Raymond G. Long Juan Reyes Sydney Mainster Andrew Sabin Glenn J. Pacchiana Andrea Schmitz Mitchell H. Pally NYLCV & NYLCVEF STAFF Clinton Plummer Julie Tighe, President Michael J. Posillico Joshua Klainberg, Senior Vice President Larry Rockefeller Marla Klinger, Vice President of Development Peggy Shepard Angela Hotaling, Director of Programs Peter C. Trimarchi Patrick McClellan, Director of Policy James T. B. Tripp Shachar Sharon, Communications Director Charles S. Warren Carlos Castell Croke, Associate for New York City Programs Michael Woloz Clare Liu, Development and Events Associate Lisa Darrigo, Program Coordinator Caroline Hahn, Special Assistant to the President

NYLCV/EF 15 EMERGINGEarly- and mid-career professionals continue to grow LEADERS into environmental advocates of the future as part of our Emerging Leaders program. Our events inform the next generation of environmental leaders about key sustainability issues through interactive discussions and gives them the tools to begin to make a difference now.

We held three events in 2020. At our happy hour, Assemblymember-elect Khaleel Anderson and Newsday editorial board member Mark Chiusano joined us to discuss the 2020 election season and politicking during a pandemic. They also led a rich discussion on how important the environment will be to voters in the future. At our breakfasts, Deputy Commissioner at the NYC Department of Sanitation Bridget Anderson discussed waste reduction initiatives and Senior Policy Advisor at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Resiliency Julia Eiferman discussed the City’s emission reduction programs and how they improve the city’s resiliency.

If you know someone who would like to become a member, email us at [email protected].

Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson and Newsday’s Mark Chiusano join our Emerging Leaders Happy Hour

16 2020 ANNUAL REPORT CORPORATE PARTNERS

Then-NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Even during social distancing restrictions, our Polly Trottenberg joined one of our Eco-Breakfasts. She is pictured here Corporate Partners Eco-Breakfast program with NYLCV State Board Chair Steven Russo and NYLCV President Julie Tighe. continued to engage business, environmental, and political leaders. We transitioned seamlessly We expanded our Corporate to a virtual format and held 13 breakfasts overall. We were joined by leaders in energy, Partners program into the mobility, and open spaces including newly Capital Region in 2020. appointed Deputy White House Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, who came in his former role This new program offers as New York State Deputy Secretary for Energy and the Environment, and then-NYC DOT opportunities for Albany-area Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, now Deputy organizations to meet decision- Secretary at the U.S. DOT. makers from the Capital Region, If you would like to become a Corporate Partner, learn more about the program, or get involved, including top agency staff. please email [email protected].

NYLCV/EF 17 DONORS

$10,000+ REBNY Fisher Brothers Julie Chang Andrew Sabin Family Red Apple Group Google Charter Linkz Foundation Related Companies Greyhound Kevin Chlad Anonymous RISE Light & Power Paul Grosser, P.W. Grosser Marvin Church, Kuba Brown, IUOE Local 94 Larry & Wendy Rockefeller Consulting Comrie Enterprises, LLC Brown & Weinraub, PLLC Paul Roux, Roux Richard H. Humann, P.E., Closed Loop Partners ChargePoint Jamie Rubin H2M architects + engineers Dan Cohen Aliza Cinamon Steven Russo, Greenberg Traurig Robin Hubbard Constantinople & Vallone Citi Sive Paget & Riesel PC Invenergy Consulting Clearway Energy Group Lise Strickler and Mark Gallogly Suri Kasirer, Kasirer, LLC Kelley Coughlan-Heck, Con Ed Suez Lee Keet TRITEC Real Estate Co. Covanta Energy, LLC The Durst Organization Lime Cozen O’Connor Edward Cox The New York Community Trust Terry Meehan, Azimuth Laura Curran Andrew Darrell The Scotts Miracle-Gro Investment Management Cypress Creek Renewables Diamond Generating, LLC Company Mercury LLC Ann Davlin Energy Action Fund The Spingold Foundation Patrick Murphy Jon Del Giorno Entergy The Walbridge Fund Nicholas & Lence District Council 9 Painters & Exelon Tishman Construction, Communications Allied Trades David Freeman an AECOM Company NRG Energy Arden Down Albert Gore Transmission Developers, Inc. NYS Laborers Organizing Fund EDF Renewables Marjorie & Gurnee Hart Two Trees Management Open Space Institute Mike Elmendorf, AGC NYS HDR Rosalind Walrath Palmetto, Mollo, Gramercy Group Inc. John Reese, Astoria Generating Charles Warren, Kramer Levin Molinaro & Passarello, LLP John Greenthal Company LP Naftalis & Frankel LLP PSEG Long Island Gail Gregg Philip Karmel, Bryan Cave Waste Management of New York Rudin Management Company Paul Hagen Leighton Paisner Western Conservation Foundation Richard Rudolph Hodgson Russ, LLP Richard Kauffman James Whelan, Real Estate Board Sam Schwartz Robert & Laura Hoguet Langan of New York Peter Sternberg, Venable LLP Michelle Hook, League of Conservation Voters Williams The Nature Conservancy Danskammer Energy, LLC Lisa Linden, LAK PR Michael Woloz, CMW Strategies The Port Authority of NY & NJ Hydro-Québec Kivvit Jacob Worenklein The Roffe Group P.C. Claire Ianno Meridiam Infrastructure Verizon Willie Janeway National Grid $5000-9999 Vineyard Wind Janis and Alan Menken Natural Resources Defense Apex Clean Energy Vornado Realty Trust Charity Fund Council (NRDC) Arnold & Porter Winters Bros Rhea Jezer, Energy21 Neste Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Richard Kessel New York OceanGrid LLC Michael Avella, $1000-4999 Mike Klein, Nixon Peabody LLP Dickinson & Avella ACE NY Urban Strategies LLC Ørsted Gene Bernstein, AECOM Venetia Lannon, Matrix New Ostroff Associates Northville Industries Atlantic Offshore Terminals World Engineering Glenn Pacchiana, Tonio Burgos, Adrienne Atwell Allison Lee, Thalle Industries, Inc. Tonio Burgos & Associates BAE Systems Albany Strategic Advisors Plaxall Capalino + Company David Bronston, Phillips Lytle William Lese Plug Power Inc. Luke Clemente, Brookfield Renewable Roger & Florence Liddell Gail S. Port Century Aggregates, Inc. Marcia Bystryn Pamela Lippe, e4, inc. Michael Posillico, Posillico, Inc. Crown Castle Capital District Thomas McMahon, Proskauer Rose LLP Tom Dewey, Dewey Pegno & Transportation Authority TLM Associates Quebec Government Office Kramarsky LLP Eduardo Castell George McNamee in New York EDP Renewables John Cavalier Ed McTiernan

18 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Metropolitan Public Strategies Hydro-Québec Leslie Danoff Rebecca Marino Karen Mintzer, Jennifer Johnson Alisha Deen-Steindler Julie A. McConnell Mintzer Mauch PLLC Jeff Jones Mariah Dignan, Marie McKellar Brookhaven National Laboratory Annie Kaempfer Climate Jobs NY John McLaughlin New York Building Congress Robert Kafin Stephanie Doba Ryan McPherson Caroline Niemczyk Rich Kassel Michael Dorkings Janice Medina Nina Orville, Jonathan Knowles Tom Duffe Bernard Melewski Abundant Efficiency Jonathan Levine Brian Dumont, Dumont Wealth Teri Mendelsohn Ushma Pandya Kerry Linderoth Kerry Dziubek Diane Millhiser Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler Jessica Mahar Maureen Early Ned Milligan Tiffany Raspberry, Lindsay Marks Maryann Eddy Judith Nelson Yorkgroup Associates, LLC Elizabeth Martin Thomas Emmons Clarence Olmstead ReEnergy Holdings Karen Meara Kenneth Fisher Tom Outerbridge, Reid, McNally & Savage Bruce Meyerson, Jonathan Flaherty Sims Municipal Recycling Robert Catell, AERTC, Goulston & Storrs Michael Flannery Catherine Parker Stony Brook University David Miller Bennett Fradkin, Shari Plummer Denise Sheehan James Mindling Fradkin & McAlpin Architects James Quent Shenker Russo & Clark LLP Tucker Green, Conscious Voter Kathryn Freed John Raugalis Peggy Shepard Contact Inc. Dean Gallea Andrew Rein Justin Sher Val Washington Michael Gerrard Jennifer Rimmer Anne Sidamon-Eristoff Deborah Yoken Jason Gers Nicholas Robinson Joanna Smith Matt Gewolb William Rom Betsy Smith, $100-499 Elizabeth Girardi-Schoen Nancy Rutenber Central Park Conservancy Joan Abruzzo Steven Goldman Michelle Schimel Gail Suchman, Sheppard Mullin Judith Albert Michael Gordon, Joule Assets John Shea The Parkside Group Joseph Ambrosio Worth Gretter Rebecca Smith Evan Thies, Bridget Anderson Anne Herrmann Karen Smith Pythia Public Affairs Andrew Baris James Hoover Valerie Smith James Tripp Geri Barish Nancy Hoppin Dean Sommer Rebecca Weintraub Benjamin Baxt Sarah Hunnewell Robin Spiegelman Whiteman Osterman & Alan Belensz John Hutchison Andrea Spilka Hanna, LLP Judith Berger Terry Joshi Jane Spinak Serena Whitridge Joe Bonilla, Annie Kaempfer Carter Strickland Madelyn Wils Relentless Awareness LLC Dave Kapell Michael Tarnok Kathryn Wylde, Partnership for Megan Boone Barry & Sharon Kissack Eva Thaddeus New York City Lynelle Bosworth Pete Klosterman Harold and Lillian Tighe Michael Zapson Flo Brodley Zackary Knaub Sarah Timpson Adam Zurofsky Thomas Brokaw Howard LaFever Paula Trimble John Cavallero Christine Leas Laura Truettner $500-999 Mark Chertok Gerald Leibowitz Roberta Turner Richard P. Brownell Kendall Christiansen Richard Leland Campbell Wallace Katrina Cary Abby Clough Lawless Edwin Leonard Elizabeth Ward Henry Euler Ellen Clyne Chuck Lesnick Margaret Ward Hederman Anthony Figliola, Matthew Cohen Dana Levenberg Leonard Wasserman Empire Government Strategies Herbert Coles Joshua Levine Cory Weissglass Jonathan Greenspun Kelly Coulon Thomas Lewek Mary Werner Louise Heit-Radwell Alenore Cusick Peter Liebowitz Thomas West Steve Hellman Denise D’Ambrosio, Law Office Doris Lowenfels Victoria Yargeau Judith Hope of Denise J. D’Ambrosio Daniel Mach Janet Zimmerman

NYLCV/EF 19 30 Broad Street, 30th Floor New York, NY 10004 212-361-6350 www.nylcv.org [email protected]

Follow us @nylcv

New York League of Conservation Voters NYLCV is the only nonpartisan, statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy, and open space through political action.

New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund NYLCVEF educates, engages, and empowers New Yorkers to be effective advocates for the environment.

All images courtesy NYLCV/EF unless otherwise noted Cover image: “Red tulips in New York City in spring” by quietbits / © Adobe Stock